Building construction



Nov. 29, 1927. 1,651,072

w. H.1M. s-MALLMAN BUILDING CQNSTRUCTIOI Filed Kay 20-. 1926 y 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 29, 1927.-

w. H. M. SMALLMAN BUILDING qouswriucrrou Filed May 20. 1926 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 29, 1927.v

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. u. SMALLMAN, or SAN FRANCISCO, onmronme, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNEASSIGNMENTS, 'ro JOHN F. RILEY, or SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed May 20,

This present invention relates to improvements in building constructionand more particularly to composite molded floor sleep ers 'on which issupported the wood floor members of a building flooring.

The invention has for its objects to provide a .fire-proof compositesleeper structure of an imperishable material, penetrable to nails orlike fastenings for securing the floor members thereto. To provide astructure which during the formation thereof permanently adheres to itssupporting base, thereby overcoming the necessity of separate securing pmeans for-attaching it to its base, and a further object is to provide astructure which is capable of being transversely ventilated to avoiddead air spaces between the sleepers beneath the floor surface and itssupporting surface. .A further object is to provide an adjustable formof structure for assisting in the formation of the sleepers and by theuse of which the sleeper structure may be cheaply and economicallyformed.

The invention consists primarily in the composite structure of anaggregate or binder consisting primarily of magnesite, silica, asbestos,,wood fibre, talc and magnesium chloride intermixed in their I properproportions to constitute a plastic mass, which is molded directly ontothe structure to support the same, and when set adheres permanentlythereto.

To more fully comprehend the invention, reference is directed to theaccompanying drawings, wherein- Fig. 1 is a view in plan disclosing aflooring attached to and supported by my improved ventilated sleeper.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view on line 22 of Fig. 5, disclosingthe forms for use in casting the sleeper structure on a permanent base.s

Fig. 3 is a view in detail section on the line 3-4, of Fig. 5, showingone of the ventilators disposed transversely of one of the sleeperforms, prior to the pouring of the sleeper forming plastic mass.

Fig. 4 is a similar view on line 34 of Fig. 5, after the pouring of theplastic mass.

Fig. 5 is a view in plan of a room, illustrating the forms to assist inthe pouring of the plastic mass during the formation of the ventilatedsleepers.

Fig. 6 is a view in detail perspective of a 1926. Serial no 110,328.

angle members for forming ad acent sleepers and adjustable within limitslongitudinally of the side rail.

Fig.8 is a sectional view in detail transversely of a completed sleeper,illustrating the ventilator extending transversely therethrough.

Fig. 9 is a similar view disclosing the solid ortion of the sleeper andwith its base adhering to the support.

In the drawings, wherein like characters of reference designatecorresponding parts, the numerals 1 indicate side wall members of a roomstructure, and 2 a permanent floor,

preferably of concrete or other fire-proof.

material.

Within the room is assembled a mold or sleeper forming frame, consistingof longitudinal pairs of side rail members 3' and parallel spaced pairsof sleeper forming angle bars 4. The opposing faces of the sleeperforming anglebars diverge from each other, as at 5, Figs. 3, 4 and 6 ofthe drawings, to enable the formation between ad jacent members of agiven pair of a sleeper having a relatively broad base and narrow top,when viewed in transverse section.

Each of the members 4 of any given pair are adjustably held by bolts 6to the side rails 3,- said rails being provided with slots 11 forreceiving the bolts 6. These bolts and slotted construction enable theadjustment of the angle members 4 to and from each other to enable theformation of sleepers of desired widths by the use of a single form.

The form being laid, as in Fig. 5 of the drawings, with the outerupturned faces 5} of the side rails 3 bearing against the surfaces ofthe base boards 9, as in Fig. 2, the mass from which the sleepers aremolded is compounded in the following manner A dry mixture of magnesite,silica, asbestos, wood fibre and tale, in the proportions ofapproximately 40% magneslte; 30% silica; 10% asbestos; 15% wood fibreand 5% tale is thoroughly intermixed by any of the well known methodsand. after intermixed it is treated with an aqueous solution of.

sistency of cement when the same is pour- Iclaim: able, is depositedbetween the sleeper orm I 1. In building construction sleepers com-- ingangle members 4 and is tamped therebetween after the tubular ventilators10 have been positioned between the members 4, as indicated in Fig. 3 ofthe drawings. The tamping is continued until such time as the massbetween the respective pairs of members 4 is free of voids or vents, andits upper surface is level with the top flanges 11 of the members 4. p

A scraper is then moved longitudinally of the flanges 11 to insure theremoval of projecting portions of the sleeper forming mass lyingabovethe flanges 11.

In this plastic mass the magnesium chlo-' ride serves as a binder and ameans for uniting the sleeper when set directly to its support. Whenset, the sleeper can, if necessary, be easily sawed, cutor tooled, andit "can be readily penetrated by nails, spikes, lags and bolts and-willtenaciously hold such fastenings. p

While the above proportions are preferable they are, of course, notabsolute, and may be varied within limits'according to circumstances andthe skill and discretion of the operator, dependent upon the desiredatrength'of the finished product, its elasticity, hardness, consistencyand penetrability.

four hours, after being poured and tamped, the plastic mass hardenssufficiently to permit the removal ofthe form. On the moval of the formby any of the well knoi n methods of separating the various parts, itwill be found that the slee ers are adhering tightly and are permanentlyattached to the concrete member 2 without the aid of separate fasteningmeans; this being accom-' plished by the action of the magnesiumchloride in connection with the other ingredients of the plastic mass.

The sleepers thus formed and indicated 'nesium chloride; ta penetrableto nails and like fastenings,

by the numerals 12 are imperishable,,sanian contain ventilating meansaffording an air circulation between the same. 4 To the upper surfacesof the sleepers, all

of which he one level .with the other, dueto the utilization of the moldor molding frame in the formation thereof, are secured by nails or otherfastening means, the main wood floor boards or members 13, the samebeing attached by nails or like securing means 15-Fig. 9.

posed of a nail penetrable body aggregate and a binder molded in aplastic conditiononto the surface of a structu'ralfioor slab ,and whenset the binder uniting the sleeper directly to the surface of thestructural floor slab supporting the same, said sleeper pro-.jecting'beyond the surface of the floor slab.

4. In' building construction "composite nail penetrable'sleeperscomposed of magnesit'e, asbestos, wood fibre, and a binder of an aqueoussolution of magnesium chloride molded, in a plastic condition directlyonto and when set adhering directly to the upper surface of andprojecting above a structural floor slab supporting the same. Aftersetting for approximately twenty-- 5. In a building construction, asupporti rial, a floor sleeper of composite plastic nail penetrablematerial molded directly onto the surface of the slab extendingoutwardly therefrom, and when set adhering to the slab surface. s

6. In building construction, a composite nail ;penetrable slab for moling in a plastic condition directly onto and when set, adhering directlyto a structural floor slab supporting the same, said sleeper composed ofmagnesite, silicate, asbestos, wood fibre, talc and a binder of anaqueous solution of mag- 7. In a building construction, a supportingslab of normally-impenetrable plastic' material, a; floor sleeper ofcomposite plastic nail penetrable material resting on the surface of theslab and extending outwardly therefrom, said floor sleeper provided witha vent opening extending transversely therethrough in a plane above thesupporting-slab.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this s ecification. Q

' WIL IAM H. M. SMALLMAN. 7

